Ruger revolvers barrel turning

[Jim n Iowa]

This is my 3rd experience with this problem. My SBH 7.5 the barrel turned on it. I was not shooting really warm loads 240 swc, but they were reloads. A friend of mine at Ruger directed me to the right person to get this corrected. I paid the shipping to, they paid the return and no charge for the repair. I have a pair of RH also in 44, so I took the poorly mounted scope off and cut the barrel to 4.75". My intent was to use as a 44sp in the field. Shot some win 200 sbt last week  off hand, and when I went to clean the gun I saw that the barrel had turned again. My other experience was with a Ruger RH 5.5". the barrel turned on it. They paid shipping both ways replaced the barrel, also replaced my trigger springs which they never returned. I have a newer RH 7.5" that has never had a hicup, the trigger is good. Maybe this a dumb question but why would they have the barrel twist and the thread of the barrel the same? One would think that they would be opposing.
Jim

[myronman3]

i had the same problem, with 3 different rugers, three times.   and  yeas, they took my springs out of my gun, too.  and when one gun came back, it looked like it had been drug behind a pickup truck for a few miles.   crazy stuff.  what is even funnier, some people get mad at you for talking about it.   and ruger doesnt have any interest in fixing the problem.

[teddy12b]

After I bought a GP100 I have been interested in ruger revolvers exclusively.  I didn't know the barrel problem was this frequent.  I'd like to buy a 5.5" redhawk, but now you've got me wondering.  Is this the problem that caused them to make the superredhawks look the way they do?

[myronman3]

i dont know what exactly made them decide to stick with that ugly design.  lol.    to their credit,  they do fix them.  but, it always seems they break at the worst possible time and you are still out your shipping.  no big deal, you say?  three guns, three trips, that was an extra 100 i was out.  really nice.

[teddy12b]

I wouldn't say that's no big deal at all.  Three broken revolvers is a big deal to me.  I had two taurus revolvers and have since swore them off because they had problems.  Seeing as the two of you have had some major issues with the rugers you had do you still own/buy rugers?  Did you switch to another brand of revolver or get out of revolvers all together? 

[myronman3]

i sent two of the three down the roadd, number 3 went to dad and has since come back to me.  i switched to freedom arms,  now a smith because i thought it would be more packable than the f.a..  i will either get another short barreled ruger or preferably a short barreled f.a. in 44.  time will tell.   and yes, i do own ruger guns still. 

[Jim n Iowa]

My last new Ruger pistol was a RedHawk 7.5". And I have had no problems with it with warm reloads. A fellow I work with loves pain and suffering, shoots the big bores. He related to me his RedHawks, 5.5 and 7.5, are way warm in reloads and the 300g bullet and was turly surprised of my problem. I believe the RedHawk is heavier than the Super RedHawk. I will stick with Ruger, pin the barrels when needed. At my age a FA would not be a smart buy.
Jim

[odoh]

. . . . . . Maybe this a dumb question but why would they have the barrel twist and the thread of the barrel the same? One would think that they would be opposing.
Jim

Hmm, I think they did take it into consideration as the bullet starts on its journey, the small nudge of the rifling engraving would work to tighten the barrel hence the RH twist. Ever see/hear of any LH twist? I've started following this phenomena only recently but, in the brief time, most of the complaints were related to those having scopes mounted on the barrels hence the birth of the SRH. The early Hunters experienced problems and now we're told that the shank threads on the new SBH Hunter is different than that of the SBH/original Hunter.

Had a brief discussion w/Jack Huntington and he commented that the SRH had a 'glue' (kinda lock-tite?) applied to their threads ~ that in itself would indicate that ruger was aware of  a need for such.

[teddy12b]

How old of guns are we talking about here that are having these problems?  Are there new guns coming off the lines with these issues or has it all be resolved by now?

[myronman3]

i had one of the hunters when they were re-introduced and that was one of them that did it.  all were new models. 

[SharonAnne]

odoh. left hand twist barrels were common in 1911 .45acp. its' construction/design is such that barrel twist is irrelevant to function.  it does adversely affect other things

[Jim n Iowa]

As I stated I had my sbh cut down to 4.75' with the intent of shooting 44sp. I shot a box (20) Win 210 sthp and the barrel turned again. I then checked my RH's (2). The 5.5" appeared to have the barrel turning. This gun Ruger stated that they replaced the barrel. My 7.5 RH also looks to have the barrel turning. I talked to a c/s person who stated they would have UPS pick up the RH 7.5 for evaluation!!
The SBH was on me as I cut the barrel. It is very costly to send a gun back to Ruger. Another problem is they will not sell a replacement barrel to any one else. I will never buy there guns again.
Jim

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive had over a 100 ruger revolvers pass through my hands through the years and never had one with that problem. Now i know it does happen as my buddy (who has had 3 times more of them then me) had a new anversery 44mag do it but it was the first time he had had the problem so i dont think its as wide spread as some would make you think.

[Jim n Iowa]

I guess that the only other choice is a 629 for a scope mounted pistol for hunting. My SBH to send in change out the barrel and send back all insured, is all on me, as I modified the barrel. This is second time it turned. I would be better off buying another gun but not a Ruger. I think they are in denial of their problem. 3 revolvers 5 turns= I am out of here.
Jim

[blhof]

Interesting comments about left hand twists.  I have some spare barrel tubes that I picked up on Ebay before they got totally anti-gun, for my DW 357 max and as I was checking the rifling, I noticed one of the barrels; a factory lightened stainless for IHMSA(as stated on the original box) was a left twist.  I haven't used it yet and it appears to have not been previously used as the forcing cone has a very sharp edge.  The DW's will shoot loose too, but it's an easy fix with the tool, that I always carry when I shoot.  The manual recommends checking tightness after about 20 rounds, but not to overtighten while hot or you'll have to heat it to remove it.

[Jim n Iowa]

Ruger will not sell many of there parts to smiths, which includes barrels. So you must submit your gun for their review at your expense to see if you qualify for warrenty work. If you have a turned barrel, and there are many out there, they may claim that you handloaded it, which voids the warenty. So you are screwed and so is the recipcant of you gun when you sell or trade. So I add this to the list of do not buy from with Traus.